Russia has effectively sealed the Crimea - the Slavic Monte Carlo-- from Ukraine.

They went in with no insignia and basically occupied the place. I don't think Ukraine will get it back any time soon. With its military in shambles, there's no way they can fight the Russians. The West is paying lip service to defending Ukraine's rights yada yada but there's nothing they can do.

The Ukrainians triggered it by passing a law outlawing Russian in official documents and procedures. This was enough of an excuse for Putin to invade. He's saying he's protecting the ethnic Russians there. Ironically, the Ukrainian military in the Crimea is also mostly ethnic Russians and so are many people in the present Ukrainian government.

This is all pretty brazen and scary:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdBeGwXgoqI[/youtube]

Pity! Because now it may mean we will need a Russian visa to go there. I had been looking forward to spending summers there but looks like I may have to change plans.

Without taking any sides, to an average ethnic Russian Crimean, it may be a boon because their salaries and pensions will go up maybe 2-4 times. This might be the main reason they are behind it. Heck, who wants to be a patriot of a country that pays him a $60 a month pension?

Parts of Eastern Ukraine may go next. If Odessa goes, that will be the end of the Ukraine we all know and we'll be left with the Catholic, rump one.

That would prevent the West from creating a pipeline from Asia through Turkey into Ukraine to Europe. It would also be very strategic to prevent NATO from acquiring ports in the Black Sea very close to Russia and allow them greater room to influence Ukraine in the aftermath. It is a very logical strategic move.

Ah, but the Crimea is so beautiful. Another thing, though- I wouldn't mind if it were Russian if they allowed easy visas and stopped checking people's papers on the streets. Ukraine let it fall into disrepair- Russia will turn it into a dynamic tourist destination ala Cyprus.

It would have been better if Ukraine could have a neutral non-EU gov't that could function but it seems that no matter which way they do it, it ends up turning into a poor Latin American-like country.

ladislav wrote:Ah, but the Crimea is so beautiful. Another thing, though- I wouldn't mind if it were Russian if they allowed easy visas and stopped checking people's papers on the streets. Ukraine let it fall into disrepair- Russia will turn it into a dynamic tourist destination ala Cyprus.

It would have been better if Ukraine could have a neutral non-EU gov't that could function but it seems that no matter which way they do it, it ends up turning into a poor Latin American-like country.

Hard to pick sides.

If Russia turns it into a good tourist destination would there be very good entrepreneurial business opportunities?

If Russia turns it into a good tourist destination would there be very good entrepreneurial business opportunities?

Opportunities for them, not necessarily for us. Maybe a big multinational with billions could come in and develop some resorts in cohouts with some Russian oligarchs. Russian bureacracy is annoying but at least it's predictable and there's a path through it if you have a lot of money. In case of Ukraine, it's just something totally useless with laws changing all the time and no navigation path.

NATO does not currently have sufficient forces deployed to deter Russia in Ukraine. Ya'll should take a good look at what happened in Georgia in 2008.

There's really nothing that you can militarily threaten the Russians with in a regional conflict at their doorstep. Economically, the EU is Russia's largest trading partner, but any EU sanctions need to consider that they also import their oil and gas from Russia.

Last edited by momopi on Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.

momopi wrote:NATO does not currently have sufficient forces deployed to deter Russia in Ukraine. Ya'll should take a good look at what happened in Georgia in 2008.

There's really nothing that you can militarily threaten the Russians with in a regional conflict at their doorstep. Economically, the EU is Russia's largest trading partner, but any EU sanctions need to consider that they also import their oil and gas from Russia.

Yeah, I think Taco's just having fun with us with all the doomsday stuff. That ass Kerry is determined to top himself in ridiculousness every time he opens his mouth, but even he doesn't get anywhere close to Taco's inference in the linked story. Putin holds all the cards, and everybody knows it (except maybe Obama, who seems as clueless as a nominal head of state can get).